Protesters blocked the Vine Street Expressway on Saturday and police said they arrested almost 70 demonstrators in the Shut Down for Palestine march. Pa. state police arrested those who stopped on the expressway and would not leave. They all were released but must appear in court.
A group of protesters with the "Party for Socialism and Liberation" who were calling for freedom for Palestine were blocking a portion of Interstate 676 over the weekend, according to officials.
Police were on the eastbound side of the highway between Broad and 8th Streets Saturday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Police made it to the scene shortly before 4 p.m., according to officials.
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Philadelphia police reported that over 300 members of the group rushed onto the westbound side of the highway which caused disruptions to traffic.
Then, most of the group left the highway and decided to walk through Center City without any issues, police said.
Meanwhile, several members stayed behind on the highway which is what made officers intervene, according to police. Troopers with the Pennsylvania State Police arrested those individuals.
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The Associated Press said that state police reported arresting 67 people who were later released with disorderly conduct summons to appear. City police reported arresting and citing at least two people.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation took to X, formerly known as Twitter, just after 8 p.m. to announce that the police activity had been cleared.
The protest group put out a call for support, saying on social media that “peaceful protesters” were “brutally arrested .. for marching for Palestinian liberation.”
“No amount of police repression will shake our solidarity with the Palestinian people!” the group wrote.
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